The Original Food is Solvable 2021 Report

Re:food's foundational report exploring how entrepreneurs and investors can solve the structural problems in our food system.

May 2021
52 pages
3 MB

Executive summary

A global food system transformation is critical to feed a growing population while operating within the means of our planet. This report makes the case that this future is not only possible but also an excellent investment opportunity, as rising food innovation, consumer demand, and sustainability-driven policy create the conditions for a new frontier of food companies to prosper.

In this report, we introduce the Re:food Circle, a framework defining a sustainable and resilient food system in terms of its planetary and ethical boundaries, and sets out the four paradigm shifts that must occur to get there: the protein shift, the regenerative farming revolution, the circular supply chain reformation, and the healthy diet transformation.

For each shift, the report traces the root cause problems driving harm across the system, identifies the leverage points where targeted action can reverse them, and maps the promising innovations best placed to deliver transformational rather than incremental impact, grounded in systems thinking and the FSSD and Three Horizons frameworks.

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Successfully reversing the damage caused by these root causes can yield transformational returns to the food system, society, and biosphere for generations to come.

Key takeaways

The Re:food Circle
Introducing our framework defining a sustainable, resilient food system within its planetary and ethical boundaries.
Four Paradigm Shifts
The protein, regenerative farming, circular supply chain, and healthy diet shifts that can transform the system.
Transformational Innovation
How systems thinking helps separate root-cause solutions from incremental fixes at key leverage points.